Anti-encryption laws: If laws pass, we will all be much less secure

6 December 2018 — 12:00am

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The new anti-encryption laws (The Age, 5/12) will make us all much less secure in many ways that may be impossible to reverse once the folly has become apparent. From our banking and commerce to privacy, protection from foreign subversion and security forces being weakened, this is a disaster that anyone with senior high school mathematics should be able to comprehend.

Illustration: Andrew Dyson

You cannot undo encryption a little bit or only for a few people. The system is either secure or it is not. There is no halfway. I can see how those who can deny the science of climate change can also deny the science of encryption mathematics. The rest of us should be alarmed at this madness.

Mark Freeman, Macleod

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Listen to the experts who have serious concerns

The algorithms used by terrorists to plot among themselves are the same as those that are used by banks to keep your transactions safe, by My Health Record to keep your medical details safe, and even by Gmail and other email providers to keep your conversations private. This is not restricted to systems such as WhatsApp, as anyone with any computing nous can encrypt messages using software which is readily available.

The danger of the counter-terrorism bill is that it does not define terms such as "systemic weakness" and will bind companies to secretive, unethical and probably illegal (to every other country) practices and doubtful accountability.

I am sorry, Peter Hartcher – "Terror bill makes sense" (Comment, 4/12) – but wheeling out one expert in favour of the bill ignores the multitude of other experts who are expressing significant concerns. The bill needs to be fixed, not blindly passed in Parliament.

Jan Newmarch, Oakleigh

The spies will not ask for our permission first

Surely there is a discrepancy between your article about Chinese hackers targeting our universities and think tanks (The Age, 5/12) and Peter Hartcher's support for the new counter-terrorism bill, which will lead to weaker security in Australia.

If Australian organisations can spy on everything, then Chinese organisations can too. And I do not think they will ask for the lawmakers' permission before they do this. Weaker protection makes all of us unsafe, including our banking, online shopping and whatever else we may do with our phones, tablets or computers.

Last year I had a laugh when former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, referring to the anti-encryption laws, said: "The laws of mathematics are very commendable, but the only law that applies in Australia is the law of Australia".

Peter Ross, IT systems engineer, Port Melbourne

Anti-encryption laws will not stop terrorism

Muslim terrorism started with the War on Terror which was initiated by the political leaders of the US, Britain and Australia and was premised on lies. This immoral and illegal war is still raging after 17 years.

Giving the security services access to encrypted apps will not stop terrorism. A simple question: Why can't they hack into mobile phones? If they succeeded in this, the terrorists would find some other way to communicate and the security services would be back at square one. There is an urgent need to stop terrorism and the War on Terror: it costs the taxpayers billions of dollars to keep Australia safe.

Bill Mathew, Parkville

Our own home-grown 'terrorism' in governments

I will bet the new bipartisan encryption intervention does not include politicians using WhatsApp to avoid Freedom of Information requests. Terrorism has many shades.

Rob McCasker, Somerton Park, SA

THE FORUM

The gangland's power

I assume Duncan Fine (Comment, 5/12) has never been asked to shoulder the responsibility of protecting society from drug dealers and murderers. His glib advice is for the police to "do better, more thorough, more exhaustive policing". Gee, I bet they never thought of that.

The figures behind the gangland wars had two powerful weapons: vast sums of money bought the loyalty of insiders, and fear and intimidation ensured the silence of insiders and outsiders alike. Had I been unfortunate enough to witness the killing of Lewis Moran, my statement to police would have read, "Sorry, I didn't see it".

Undoubtedly Lawyer X did the wrong thing by her clients in providing information about them to police. I am not convinced that the police did the wrong thing by the community in using that information to convict dangerous criminals.

David Francis, Ivanhoe

The actions were wrong

Duncan Fine says the police prosecute, the defence lawyer argues their client's case, and it's the sole domain of the judge or jury to determine guilt or innocence. He also says there needs to be "better, more thorough, more exhaustive policing". It is to be hoped the royal commission will play a major part in bringing about these changes. The ends do not justify the means.

Rosemary Taylor, Castlemaine

A great joke for the crims

How wonderful is our fair justice system? Unfortunately the criminals do not play fair. They are having a good old laugh and, possibly, walking free. It is a pity that the millions to be spent on the royal commission are not available to help the rehabilitation of the sons, daughters and families whose lives have been ruined by drug-peddling gangsters. The joke is on taxpayers – but we are not laughing.

Teresa Grace, Leopold

The greatest treason

To quote T.S.Eliot, "The last temptation is the greatest treason: to do the right deed for the wrong reason". Maybe if this had been front-of-mind thinking for all those involved, then the appalling legal situation unfolding before us may have never occurred.

Graham Black, Notting Hill

Make peace, not war

Nine billion dollars for three potentially dodgy warships and $100million for a "white elephant" and "over the top", First World War commemorative centre in northern France (The Age 5/12). The money might have been better spent on a Ministry for Peace and International Co-operation.

Anne Sgro, Coburg North

Too much excitment

The moderates of the Liberal Party have saved Craig Kelly's bacon. Scott Morrison has saved himself. Malcolm Turnbull is saving nobody. Each day brings fresh excitement. One hopes that the Labor Party, if it wins office, will not just do boring things like running the country.

Margaret Ady, Avondale Heights

Kelly, what a vote winner

Apparently Scott Morrison had wanted former deputy mayor of Woollahra Katherine O'Regan to stand for Wentworth but he could not make it happen. But in similar circumstances, he can make it happen for Craig Kelly. The conclusion is that survival is more important that gender balance, which, ironically, has arguably lost the Liberals two votes in the lower house already. And consider this: how appealing is Kelly to women? And how much more appealing will he (or indeed the Liberals) be now?

Alan Dormer, South Yarra

Anger, resentment ...

In his lovely cartoon (The Age, 5/12) on the Liberals' "internal rumblings" (with stomach, liver, intestines etc), Matt Golding omitted the key organ which is exercising them at the moment – their spleen.

Linda Skinner, Mooroolbark

... and deep frustration

Don't forget the Liberals' most important organ, the gall bladder.

Danny Drummond, Leongatha South

St Kilda for everyone

I support Serge Thomann and Andrew Bond (Comment, 5/12) in seeking stringent alcohol restrictions in St Kilda, especially along the foreshore, over summer. As a long-term resident, I am always happy to welcome others – tourists and day-trippers from the "burbs" – to visit and enjoy the amazing amenity that I am lucky enough to live with every day.

However, visitors have a responsibility to treat our home with respect. Providing an alcohol-fuelled arena in this area is simply asking for trouble. When those who are out to "party hard" have free rein in our streets and on our beaches, they will arrive in force, ready for action. It is time to make St Kilda a place for everyone.

Kathryn Richards, St Kilda

Let's end the violence

There is overwhelming evidence that the greater the number of bottle shops, liquor barns, pubs and clubs in an area, the greater the level of assaults and violence. Research also shows that each additional bottle shop per 1000 residents in an area increases the rate of family violence by an average of 29per cent.

Rather than the City of Port Phillip introducing a booze ban on the St Kilda foreshore this summer, it would be better if the state government allowed local communities to decide how many liquor outlets they want in their own areas.

Mark Zirnsak, Uniting Church in Victoria and Tasmania

Joy of Leunig and song

When I turned up the December page on Leunig's calendar, and read his verses, it reminded me of two carols. I did not know whether to burst into song using Gabrielle's Message (Basque) or Carol of the Birds by John Wheeler and William Garnet James. Thank you, Leunig.

Ina Graham, Wantirna

Teaching MPs manners

Peng Eee (Letters, 4/12), it is no accident that Cameron Smith and Marc Leishman displayed "immaculate sportsmanship" under the final round pressure of the Australian PGA Championship on Sunday. The very first section in the Rules of Golf is about etiquette, "demonstrating courtesy and sportsmanship at all times".

Perhaps the traditional church service that opens a parliamentary year should, in 2019, be followed by a round of golf for all concerned.

Jim Spithill, Ashburton

Just say no, Mr Shorten

Bill Shorten, if you are going to "be guided by the best science and the national interest" in regards to the Adani mine, then you must oppose it. The "best science" has been crying out for 20years that immediate and drastic action must be taken to avert the worst damages that climate change will inevitably bring. The "national interest" of Australia is to protect its citizens and land from climate change, and this has been repeated ad infinitum by its own citizens.

Do not end up like Malcolm Turnbull and the Liberal Party. Their inability to listen to their citizens and act on climate change was their undoing. It will be yours if you fail to learn from their mistakes, just as they failed to learn from Labor's mistakes in their leadership shuffling.

Jacob Demopoulos, Leopold

Tackle climate change

Evan Mulholland from the Institute of Public Affairs says "mainstream Australians want lower power prices rather than global warming gesturing" (Comment, 4/12). If he bothered to ask, he would know that climate change is our major concern and we want our leaders to tackle it.

David Brophy, Beaumaris

At least one is listening

At least John Pesutto, who lost the seat of Hawthorn, recognises that climate and energy policy had something to do with the Victorian election result. He might have made a decent leader for the Liberals.

John Gipps, Frankston

The power of young voters

In the last week, the leaders of the future campaigned against climate change. Their courage, smart ideas and bright personalities were wonderful to see. In five, 10 or 20 years, some of them will seek a role in Parliament. Which party does the Coalition, with its criticism of the young people's efforts, expect them to join? If they do not stand for Parliament, which parties will they vote for? I suspect that without a major overhaul of its policies, the Coalition will remain in the wilderness for a long time.

Eileen Ray, Ascot Vale

Short-term commitment?

One has to admire the students who took part in the strike. They are the concerned ones who walk and cycle to school, rather than be transported daily in energy-consuming cars, trains, buses and trams, adding to peak-hour delays.

They do not use energy-consuming, electric-powered computers, phones and tablets. They insist that the air conditioning be turned off in classrooms. They do not eat processed food or use plastic bags, and they do not buy bottled water or takeaway food in plastic containers. It is pleasing to see that they will discard these trappings of their upbringing, at least in the short-term.

Graham Stevens, Murrumbeena

Christmas goody for PM

On Saint Nicholas Day (December 5 or 6 in many cultures), children who have been good can expect a nice present from the Saint. But the badly behaved can expect a lump of coal. Perhaps that is how Scott Morrison, when he was treasurer earlier in the year, got his piece of coal. Can he expect another?

David Keuneman, Fairfield

Really cheap and nasty

Sue McKnight (Letters, 5/12), if you think the Christmas decorations in the CBD are cheap and nasty, please "recycle" them to our Barkly Village in West Footscray. There you will see what Maribyrnong Council has given us: cheaper and nastier decorations.

Mary O'Brien, West Footscray

Too much bare skin

I was affronted and outraged by the two suggestive, full-page ads for WelleCo (The Age, 5/12). How desperate are you to descend to this inappropriately sexist and tasteless level? Please, no more of this.

Suzanne Powell, Wheelers Hill

AND ANOTHER THING

Life matters

Patricia Karvelas was kicked out of question time for showing "too much skin". This should have been in Odd Spot.

Phat Thai, Bulleen

Would she suffer the same fate in the MCG's Long Room on Grand Final day?

Rex Condon, Ashwood

So that's why Pauline covered up in Parliament.

Stephen Baldwin, Frankston

About 200 Christmas cards in my newsagent, but only five with religious themes and two with the name Jesus. What are we doing?

John Pokorny, Balwyn

Re Informant 3838: the process may have been wrong but the results were correct.

Bill Walker, St Andrews Beach

If it isn't the politicians, it's the police. Do they take stupid pills?

Debb Schmetzer, W Tree

Politics

Australia should design and build its own subs. How hard can it be to build one that sinks?

Keith Robinson, Glen Waverley

Frydenberg sends two emails in two days to his constituents. He remembers us. Perhaps we'll see him in Kooyong. What's changed?

Richard Pentony, Hawthorn

Barry O'Sullivan et al. Relevance deprivation syndrome?

Gill Riley, Doncaster East

The seat of Hawthorn is a good example of the danger of not listening to voters.